Costa Rican international forward joins Chicago Fire

31-year-old veteran of two World Cups will start and become the target of the team’s offense as soon as his immigration papers clear.

By Nick Firchau

Cuauhtemoc Blanco has already boosted the Fire’s sagging offense. He’s about to get some reinforcements.

On Monday, the team officially introduced Costa Rican international forward Paulo Wanchope. The Fire said the 31-year-old veteran of two World Cups will start and become the target of the team’s offense as soon as his immigration papers clear.

Fire president/CEO John Guppy, who courted Wanchope for more than two weeks — with the reputation of Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio adding to the team’s allure — said there’s a “60 percent chance” Wanchope’s papers will clear in time for the team’s Major League Soccer match Saturday vs. the Columbus Crew at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.

If he can’t play Saturday, Wanchope should be available for the Fire’s Aug. 18 match at Real Salt Lake.

“I’m very happy to be here, and it’s a great, great challenge for me,” said Wanchope, who spent eight seasons in the English Premier League and one in the Spanish First Division. “I’m happy to be back working with Juan Carlos, and that’s why I made the decision to come here. It’s a great chance to recover the level of my game.”

Wanchope played in the English Premier League from 1996-2004, the final four of those seasons with Manchester City. Osorio was an assistant coach with the team at the time, and the two developed a professional relationship that fueled Guppy’s pursuit of the 6-foot-4 forward.

Wanchope has struggled to find his niche since leaving Spain’s Malaga FC in 2005, bouncing around in leagues in Argentina, Qatar, Costa Rica and Japan. Still, his talent and size should make an immediate impact, according to Osorio.

“He’s a ‘target man.’ He’s not only very good in the air, but he’s very strong,” Osorio said of Wanchope, who played on Costa Rica’s World Cup squads in 2002 and 2006. “He’s a very good professional, and he will be a very good example for the young players who come to watch the games to see how a striker should play the position.”

The Fire (5-8-4) has longed for an effective striker for much of the season, but the July 20 addition of Blanco has already paid dividends. Blanco scored a goal in his Fire debut in an international friendly July 22 against Celtic FC, and assisted on the first goal of the Fire’s 3-0 MLS romp Sunday over Toronto FC.

Osorio said the addition of Wanchope won’t affect Blanco’s status as an attacking midfielder.

Although he’s been courted by MLS teams in the past, Wanchope said the Fire’s hiring of Osorio made his decision to come here an easy one. Wanchope also spoke with former Fire forward and 2006 team MVP Andy Herron, a fellow Costa Rican, to get his impression of the team and the league.

“I know the quality I will have during the week, working out and practicing,” said Wanchope, who scored two goals against Germany in a first-round game in the 2006 World Cup. “And I know that will make me a better player.”